Last year, I finally took advantage of the opportunity to visit Temecula’s Wine Country. With iPods loaded with crazy throwback tunes, playlists roaring and near perfect weather, my friends and I hit the open road on our way through the hills to Temecula. What was I expecting upon arriving? To be honest, I had no idea. I had been to Stone Brewing Company the previous year so the scenery I was looking for was similar to that. Desert hillsides lined with sparse greenery, palm trees and a lot of rocky soil. As we approached the "Welcome to Temecula" sign, we drove past gorgeous housing communities and neighborhoods, which had me scratching my head. Okay... so, where is wine country? [...]

Maryland wine. Say it.. "Maryland wine." Most people shudder or follow up with “oh, hell no”. I was one of those people to be quite honest. The only wine I had encountered from Maryland was produced concentrate or grapes from outside of the state or had enough sugar to make a diabetic quiver. After long overdue plans had finally solidified with our good friends Katey and Dan, they had made arrangements for a tour and tasting (appointment required) at Great Frogs Winery of Annapolis. We were very open to the experience as, quite frankly, we could have had a root beer tasting and had a good time.

Visiting Paso Robles for the first time was nothing short of amazing. The laid back setting, rolling hills, and less crowded viticultural area provides wine enthusiasts with what most people seek when visiting California wine country – peace and quiet, great food, great people, and AMAZING wines. This particular day brought us to a hand full of wineries, all of which showed very different wines. We were able to stop by two Neil Collins wineries, including Tablas Creek Vineyard. English-born Neil Collins was actually a trained Chef, but eventually came to dabble and subsequently focus solely on winemaking and vineyard management. With stints at Adelaida Cellars and Wild Horse, Neil met owners Robert Haas and the Perrin family when Tablas Creek was beginning its journey, and Neil had to be a part of it. Tablas Creek was founded by the Perrin Family, proprietors of Château de Beaucastel in famous Chateauneuf-Du-Pape, …

A couple of weeks ago, Rappahannock Cellars opened up their newest addition to the winery – their Barrel Room! During our visit we were also able to taste the super limited, club only 2013 Viognier, and let me tell you, it is a treat to be had! As a follow up to that experience, I think it was timed appropriately to share with you all, my readers, the last Rappahannock Cellars review that I contributed to AmericanWineryGuide. This review is very in-depth and provides insight on just how this powerhouse Virginia winery got its start. Be sure to check out photos from the mid-Summer opening of the new Barrel Room (hint hint: that is now booking events and weddings!), as well as some of my photos from past visits. Enjoy! The HISTORY “The Delmare family moved from California in the late 1990s with the hope of raising their family in …

Paso Robles has some of the finest Rhône style wines in not only California, but the United States as well. Our latest AmericanWineryGuide contribution covers yet another gem that Paso Robles has to offer. Do not sleep on Paso, especially if you are a fan of small family-style wineries. The HISTORY “Halter Ranch is located in the Paso Robles Westside Adelaida District and produces Bordeaux and Rhône-style wines made from 100% sustainable, estate-grown grapes. The ranch itself has been around since the late 1800s when it was originally owned by businessman Edwin Smith, who was a dealer in produce and livestock and was part of 3,600 acres of land he owned. Edwin built a Victorian farmhouse that later burned down, but was rebuilt and utilized until his business collapsed. In 1943, about 1,200 acres were purchased by the MacGillivray family and was farmed for over 50-plus years until the …